Technically, it’s been solenostemon for years, but I don’t know anyone, even the most die-hard of botanical name purists, refer to it as anything but coleus. And that’s the way it should be. Joseph/Greensparrow Gardens has similar feelings about this and other preemptory and seemingly arbitrary scientific name changes. . He’s even made a video about it that has been making the rounds to much acclaim.

I can only imagine some over sensitive grower got scared. I mean with all the talk of col-onoscopies, bill col-lectors the impending Obama socialist farming col-lectives. I would too change the name of col-eus to anything not resembling the government sticking its’ arm up our col-on and controlling every aspect of life.
Just the thought gives me col-onitis
THE TROLL

The garden “Coleus” is now Plectranthus scutellarioides, keep up! Coleus blumei was published in 1832, Plectranthus scutellarioides in 1810 so it is the earlier and correct name.

The massive task of organising taxonomy is fascinating and is rationalising the naming of plants that has been messed up for years. Gardeners can carry on calling them whatever they like, people who want to know the latest name can look on the Plant List: http://www.theplantlist.org/ The reorganising of families according to their real relationships rather than what they look like is also wonderful. Pomegranate being in the Lythraceae just makes sense now we know.